Ted Jackson/The Times-PicayuneMarshall Faulk, a New Orleans native, spoke to the Southern Miss and Troy players, coaches and fans at the New Orleans Marriott today.

New Orleans-native Marshall Faulk, a former NFL running back and league MVP, made a brief homecoming this afternoon as the keynote speaker at the R&L Carrier's New Orleans Bowl luncheon. He addressed a room packed with hundreds of people - fans, media, and Bowl personnel, but focused his thoughts on the University of Southern Mississippi and Troy University players.

Faulk said he's given several speeches to businesses, but never to a group of college football players.

He hopes he made an impression.

"Very rare do you get a one of you speakers," Faulk said. "I'm like one of them. I was one of them. I am one of them. I can remember sitting there and not listening to the speaker - he was some business guy. It was a little differet for me talking to them and hopefully it was different for them hearing me. I wanted to make it personal, I wanted them to know about me and how I saw it, and how I felt I could help them, the college athletes."